The four winners of the Great British Bake Off on how their lives have changed
since the show

Never mind the baking powder, it seems to be star dust that lingers on the winners of the Great British Bake Off.

The four previous victors of the series have all seen their profiles rise almost as much as their cakes since triumphing on the show.

The victorious contestants were brought together for a photo shoot for the latest edition of the BBC Good Food Magazine, and to compare the impact the show has had on their lives.

In a feat that has not necessarily been achieved by the winners of other reality television series, Edd Kimber, Jo Wheatley, John Whaite and Frances Quinn are all still thriving professionally in their chosen field, with all now making a living from baking.

They have five cookbooks between them – with another four in the pipeline – and have amassed dozens of television and public appearances. Three of the four now run their own baking classes.

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Edd Kimber, from Bradford, who won the inaugural series in 2010, said: “One of the things I remember being told by friends and family when my series finished was to make the most of it, because it was a reality show and you will disappear after a year. I was told not to think of this as a career.

Edd Kimber, from Bradford, won The Great British Bake Off in 2010 (Rex)

“But I have actually got busier every year since then, and it keeps getting better and better. Often with these sorts of shows, you have someone who wins who is then replaced by the next winner. It is an odd situation where you have four people who are all doing quite well from the show. I think part of the reason is the type of show it is, where people are left with an affection for those who have appeared.”

He likened the select group of winners to being in a “family”, and reflected that their shared success had left a special bond between them.

“When I won, I had to learn a lot fast. I had no one to ask about what I should do, what opportunities to pursue. It was a confusing time and I definitely made mistakes. Because of this, I’ve always tried to offer advice when other contestants have asked me. Winning is almost like becoming a member of a family – it’s only those few lovely guys who can really understand what the whole process is like.”

After his victory, Kimber, a former litigation worker at Yorkshire Bank, was – within an hour of the show ending – invited to do work experience in Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. Since then he has set up his own company as The Boy Who Bakes, and is now working on his third recipe book. He also runs regular courses for aspiring bakers.

He has made several public appearances alongside Whaite, who won the show in 2012. The law graduate has already published his first book, with another due out later this month. Whaite, who had just begun a career as a banker in the Royal Bank of Scotland’s asset finance department when he won the title, also holds regular baking classes in Greenwich, south west London, where he lives.

He said: “Taking part in the Bake Off ended up being an incredible career change. I wouldn’t have been quite as confident though, if it wasn’t for the sound advice I received from Edd and Jo. They were so very helpful.”

Quinn, last year’s champion, agreed: “‘I was already following the others on Twitter, so as the competition went on, I’d receive friendly messages. I valued their support, as they definitely know what it’s like – especially as the final approached and the nation seemed to be gripped by the Bake Off.

Frances Quinn, winner of the 2013 Great British Bake Off (Rex)

“They sent me lovely messages on the night the final was screened. When we met afterwards, they gave me lots of great advice – particularly not to rush into things. It was good to learn from their experiences.”

Quinn, from Market Harborough, was a children’s clothes designer for Joules when she won. She has recently started a sabbatical from the company, while writing a cookbook. She has also been occupied taking on a range of projects. These have included: creating a giant fondant fancy for the illustrator Quentin Blake; batches of cauliflower cheese scones for the BBC Good Food Show; a sculpture out of shortbread for the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield; and a gingerbread biscuit to mark the first birthday of London’s Shard building.

Wheatley, who won the title in 2011, now runs a home baking school at her property in Essex. She has produced two recipe books: A Passion for Baking and Home Baking. A third is expected.

‘Bake Off was such an amazing experience,” she said. “It pushed me to expand my skills and introduced me to some wonderful people whom I now count as friends.’